Safety holster for preventing access to a firearm by unauthorized users
First Claim
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1. A safety holster for a firearm, comprising:
- a retaining member having an engagement surface formed thereon and a catch surface formed thereon, said retaining member being pivotal between a first position wherein the firearm is not constrained by said catch surface and the firearm can be withdrawn from said holster and a second position wherein said catch surface engages and constrains a cooperating portion of the firearm to prevent withdrawal of the firearm from said holster, and wherein said engagement surface is disposed on the retaining member so that, when the firearm is inserted into the holster with said retaining member in said first position, the cooperating portion of the firearm contacts said engagement surface and pivots said retaining member to said second position;
a lock operatively coupled to said retaining member and adapted to secure said retaining member in said second position;
an actuator operatively coupled to said lock; and
means for identifying an authorized user of the firearm and actuating said actuator to release said lock to permit withdrawal of the firearm from said holster.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A safety holster for a firearm, including a pivotally mounted retaining member for engaging the trigger guard of the firearm and preventing withdrawal of the firearm from the holster by anyone other than an authorized user of the firearm. The holster includes a fingerprint sensor for scanning fingerprint information of a perspective user of the firearm, and a processor for comparing the scanned fingerprint information with stored fingerprint information of an authorized user and releasing the retaining member only if the scanned fingerprint information matches that of the authorized user.
104 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A safety holster for a firearm, comprising:
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a retaining member having an engagement surface formed thereon and a catch surface formed thereon, said retaining member being pivotal between a first position wherein the firearm is not constrained by said catch surface and the firearm can be withdrawn from said holster and a second position wherein said catch surface engages and constrains a cooperating portion of the firearm to prevent withdrawal of the firearm from said holster, and wherein said engagement surface is disposed on the retaining member so that, when the firearm is inserted into the holster with said retaining member in said first position, the cooperating portion of the firearm contacts said engagement surface and pivots said retaining member to said second position;
a lock operatively coupled to said retaining member and adapted to secure said retaining member in said second position;
an actuator operatively coupled to said lock; and
means for identifying an authorized user of the firearm and actuating said actuator to release said lock to permit withdrawal of the firearm from said holster. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 23)
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11. A safety holster for a firearm, comprising:
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a shell having an opening for receiving a portion of the firearm within said shell while leaving a portion of the firearm exposed external of said shell for access by a user;
a retaining member pivotally mounted to said shell, said retaining member having at least two projections with an engagement surface formed on one of said projections and a catch surface formed on another one of said projections, said engagement surface and said catch surface defining a notch, said notch adapted to receive a cooperating portion of the firearm, said retaining member being pivotal between a first position wherein the firearm is not constrained by said catch surface and the firearm can be withdrawn from said shell and a second position wherein said catch surface engages and constrains a cooperating portion of the firearm to prevent withdrawal of the firearm from said shell, and wherein said engagement surface is disposed on the retaining member so that, when the firearm is inserted into the shell with the retaining member in the first position, the cooperating portion of the firearm contacts said engagement surface and pivots said retaining member to the second position;
means for locking said retaining member in said second position; and
a fingerprint sensor operatively coupled to said locking means for identifying an authorized user of the firearm and releasing said locking means to permit withdrawal of the firearm from said holster. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A safety holster for a firearm, comprising:
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a retaining member having a catch surface formed thereon, said retaining member being moveable between a first position wherein the firearm is not constrained by said catch surface and the firearm can be withdrawn from said holster and a second position wherein said catch surface engages and constrains a cooperating portion of the firearm to prevent withdrawal of the firearm from said holster;
a lock operatively coupled to said retaining member and adapted to secure said retaining member in said second position, wherein said lock comprises a lock notch formed in said retaining member, and a pivotal lever having a head and an arm, wherein said lever is pivotal between a first locked position and a second unlocked position, wherein when said lever is in said first locked position and said retaining member is in said second position, said head is received in said lock notch to prevent said retainer member from pivoting to said first position, and a drive means operable to engage said arm and to pivot said lever to said second unlocked position; and
means for identifying an authorized user of the firearm and releasing said lock to permit withdrawal of the firearm from said holster.
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21. A safety holster for a firearm, comprising:
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a retaining member having a catch surface formed thereon, said retaining member being moveable between a first position wherein the firearm is not constrained by said catch surface and the firearm can be withdrawn from said holster and a second position wherein said catch surface engages and constrains a cooperating portion of the firearm to prevent withdrawal of the firearm from said holster;
a lock operatively coupled to said retaining member and adapted to secure said retaining member in said second position, wherein said lock comprises a lock notch formed in said retaining member, a pivotal lever having a head and an arm, wherein said lever is pivotal between a first locked position and a second unlocked position, wherein when said lever is in said first locked position and said retaining member is in said second position, said head is received in said lock notch to prevent said retainer member from pivoting to said first position, and a drive means operable to engage said arm and to pivot said lever to said second unlocked position;
means for identifying an authorized user of the firearm and releasing said lock to permit withdrawal of the firearm from said holster; and
a lift mechanism disposed within said holster that biases the firearm within the holster toward an opening in said holster.
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22. A safety holster fare firearm, comprising:
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a retaining member having a catch surface formed thereon, said retaining member being moveable between a first position wherein the firearm is not constrained by said catch surface and the firearm can be withdrawn from said holster and a second position wherein said catch surface engages and constrains a cooperating portion of the firearm to prevent withdrawal of the firearm from said holster;
a lock operatively coupled to said retaining member and adapted to secure said retaining member in said second position, wherein said lock comprises a lock notch farmed in said retaining member, a pivotal lever having a head and an arm, wherein said lever is pivotal between a first locked position and a second unlocked position, wherein when said lever is in said first locked position and said retaining member is in said second position, said head is received in said lock notch to prevent said retainer member from pivoting to said first position, and a drive means operable to engage said arm and pivot said lever to said second unlocked position;
means for identifying an authorized user of the firearm and releasing said lock to permit withdrawal of the firearm from said holster; and
an errant discharge absorption pad disposed on said holster adjacent the position of the muzzle of the firearm when inserted in said holster.
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Specification